Synopsis: From the back cover of the DAW Books first edition: It began with an overwhelming abuse of the environment, and when the damage had spread too far, humans turned to genetic manipulation to search of a viable form for survival. Off the coast of California, gill equipped humans returned to the sea for a time. But the lure of the land was too strong and eventually they returned, determined to manipulate their environment instead of themselves. Then a recurring plague decimated humankind, linking to the DNA structure to create truly terrifying mutations. Desperately, a small group searched for answers, seeking to breed the shifting bloodlines back to a pure form. And while they experimented, Thomas Blade and his fellow Lord Protectors - seven men and women gifted with powerful psychic abilities - stood guard as the last defense against the forces of the mutant Denethan, who had sworn to complete the destruction of the "true" human race...